A recipe for fun

Recipe for a new kitchen:

Ingredients:
Determination     Patience     Air Compressor   A good helper     Sheetrock     Tile     Can lights
Electrician           Cabinets     Appliances          Crowbar              Hammers      Caulk  Brad Nailer
Crown Moulding Grout         Spreader              Smoother             Sponge        Sheetrocker                    
Paint                     Lights

What began as a little touch up painting turned into a four month long project but oh! what fun it was - most of the time!  But we were not in a rush. I decided to tear out the kitchen cabinets at my leisure once I decided to take them out and this became our makeshift kitchen for a while.

After the wall was gone between the living room and kitchen and I had taken down part of the cabinets I knew I had to have a new ceiling! Oh how I don't miss those little square ceiling tiles.

Happiness was getting the first cabinet out almost in one piece. It would be handy for a workshop which I just happened to be helping to build in my spare time! It was the only cabinet that came out in tact. I had no idea how well built my cabinets were - built in the kitchen and not hauled in from elsewhere obviously.

We took a break from the kitchen and put up some crown molding. Right in the middle of that project Lowe's ran out of the corner pieces that I call both cheating and a life saver!  We had to wait until they restocked the shelves but eventually they did. In the meantime the electrician got the can lights installed.   Loving them!

Leon thought this was for the trash pile. To me it looks like a bird house just waiting to be made so of course I saved all the drawers! That will be a spring project.

There was a slight delay with the kitchen floor after I got a little carried away with my new tool and took out some tiles that I should have left.  I keep hearing that it is good for the brain to learn new things and I have sure been practicing.

Finally, knowing that I could not match my tile, I decided that I would put the island on it's own island once I found some tile that blended.  

I wasn't sure how this would all turn out but was quite pleased with the results.  Now for the icing on the cake!

This is my new cozy little kitchen from the "new" dining room. The southern exposure floods the area with sunlight on cold winter days. I am very pleased! It wasn't Florida, as was the original plan for the winter, but it was progress.

After mixing all ingredients the kitchen is done. It is time to sit back and relax now but I have a hard time staying out of the kitchen! I love my new gas griddle!! 

Remodel update

This may not look like progress to some but it sure was to me. The cabinets have all been torn out except for this little mini kitchen. It seems simplicity isn't all bad. I realize I have almost everything I need right there.  A few tiles left to tear off and boy, I had no idea what a good job I did of adhering them to the wall when I put them up.

I had no clue my refrigerator was leaking until I pulled it away from the wall. Who knew that Entergy would send you $75 if you participate in the haul away plan with Lowe's.  I did manage to get in on the Black Friday sale for the new fridge. 

Then when part of my ceiling was torn out after I took down the soffets, it rained on my stove. I hope the hour I spent on the roof with some roof tar will take care of that because my new sheetrock ceiling sure looks good. And yes, I have painted the ceiling again...once before and once after...never start a project in the middle!  One step forward and two steps back! 

I am now waiting patiently while Anything of Wood builds some cabinets, the electrician works some magic with my wiring, and the plumber runs me a gas line for the stove in the carport.

 My idea of patient:  help build a shed/shop up the hill, strip paint from old cabinets just to see how they used to look, paint crown molding that I will soon learn how to install, patch the floor where 6 pieces of tile are now needed and lay tile, fill in the spaces where the fridge and stove will go, touch up paint after the ceiling and wall texturing, sweep dust, mop dust, vacuum dust, wipe off dust, sweep dust, mop dust, etc!

Tear down that wall!

Remodel Phase II began when I found the contractor to tear down the living room wall adjacent to the kitchen. I have always wanted that southern winter sun to shine into the kitchen and soon it will! But first to get rid of some furniture.  Leon was kind enough to hall this desk up the hill and Jeff was kind enough to find a spot for it. France circa 1860s is no longer welcome in my new dining room!

Joey wasted no time in getting started. Jeff and Leon marvel at something!  

I do like to reuse things if possible so I pulled some nails out of the cedar studs to be reused in our future shed project. Why buy 2x4s if you already have them?

Joey and Rocky didn't realize they were teaching me how to replace and add flooring. 

I can now walk into the dining area and see into the kitchen, but now I also see those soffets all too well and they have got to go!  I soon realized that the ceiling did not extend to the wall.  It seems like I began this project in the middle.  I know, I could get new cabinets to the ceiling but I don't plan to replace the one over the counter. At last, it is time to put up new sheetrock on the ceiling. I have wanted to cover those tacky tiles forever.

But first...

The contractor tried to ease his way into doing this job also but I caught onto that in a hurry. Why would I want to miss out on the fun.  I am not sure Leon would agree with that theory.

OK! Time to take a break and figure out about gas stoves, can lighting, LED lights, and what kind of cabinets I want. I don't mind living like this at all! I am multi-tasking and have another project to begin before cold weather sets in. 

Remodel phase 1

1965 called and wanted their house back. I decided it was time to do a little work and try to disguise the  place. Here I am converting the living room coat closet for storage. Oh what a collector I am! I never knew I could have such fun building shelves.

 The kitchen is ready for a fresh coat of paint. So drab! But first it needs a little orange peel texture.

Oh no! There comes the painted wallpaper off the paneling. That means there is more work to be done.

Now the hall, dining room and kitchen have been stripped of wallpaper and Neil is in the process of patching the paneling.

A ghost house! After the walls have been sprayed. Oh what a mess not to mention it is hard to breathe. 

I decided to move the dining room to the living room. Away we go! Leon says, "Wait, I can help," but his eye doctor told him not to move heavy furniture after his cataract surgery.

There is nothing like friends when it comes to a project. Especially an art teacher who can paint a straight line!

Chris was excellent help and finished stripping wallpaper from the living room (now dining room) wall!

Cissy checked in for moral support and suggestions.

This isn't Leon's first rodeo when it comes to building shelves. 

Now that my dining room table was my library table it was time to shop. I stood right in the Home Again store and sold a lady those chairs that I didn't want while we hauled out that table. Everything just seemed to come together so nicely. And boy, have I gone green!